My name is Oceanna. De la Cruz. And man, are you guys in for a story.

I had never been in love. I spent twenty two years of my life shunning any guy who took interest in me. They were all the same. Gentlemen at first, douche bags in the end. They would try to reel me in with those unoriginal compliments until they realized I wouldn't open my legs. Then they bounced. It was absolutely fine; I found satisfaction in rejecting men. I told myself I would never get my heart broken. That's what happened to women who trusted too easily. I would never trust a man. Ever.

I believed that. Until I met Jin.

It was a chance encounter. I was fresh out of college with a useless degree in interdisciplinary studies that landed me a waitress gig. It wasn't all bad; plus, it came with perks. I could fake a smile and engage in pleasantries. A little mascara and a red lip gloss upped my tip intake. My manager would stick up for me when customers got a bit fresh. I could walk in five minutes late without repercussions. Things could have been worse. But I never imagined I would be a waitress when I graduated. What was the point in going to college for a job I could get straight out of high school? I knew it was my fault for picking such an obscure major. None of the potential employers I interviewed with knew what it was. It sounded like I couldn't make up my mind, and it was true. When it was time to decide on a major, I panicked. So I lumped a bunch of random courses together and ta-da! Bachelor's degree. But I digress.

One evening, my coworker Jake wanted to leave a few minutes early to get ready for a date. He asked me to cover the rest of his shift. I didn't want to. My feet ached, and I probably smelled like it was time for me to go home and take a long shower. But the bar was quieting down. Our last customers sat at a table near the back of the room. I straightened, plastered on a smile, and strolled over to the group with my notepad in hand.

"How may I-"

I paused. My eyes fell on the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. His sleek black hair was pulled into a ponytail. He wore a black blazer over a white buttoned shirt and black tie. He peered over his round glasses at me, his serious gray eyes contrasting the lovely smile forming on his face. I didn't let myself get too excited. Surely someone as handsome as he had a line of women at his beck and call.

I regained my composure. "Hello, my name is Oceanna. I will be taking care of you today."

There were two other men sitting at the table. The one with silver hair and sleepy eyes spoke first, "Oceanna? I love that name. It reminds me of fishing."

That was the strangest compliment I ever received about my name. "Oh! Well, thank you…"

A blonde man with a disinterested expression and cold blue eyes cleared his throat. "Yes. I will have lobster thermidor with a side of prosciutto-wrapped asparagus."

I arched an eyebrow. What did he think this was? A French gourmet restaurant? "The closest thing we have to that is our shrimp taco."

The man looked flabbergasted. "And your selection of wine?"

"We have red wine. And also white."

He sank further into his chair. The silver-haired man ordered a grilled salmon fillet, and the pompous guy eventually settled on baked tilapia. I turned to Mr. Gorgeous. "And what would you like tonight, sir?"

He placed his menu on the table with an air of elegance. ""What would you suggest, Miss Oceanna? I've never been here before."

I fumbled for a response. I wasn't expecting him to ask me for a recommendation. "Oh, um, I really like the steak here. It's, uh, very tender."

If I could have slapped my forehead, I would have. I should've just became a food critic. The steak is tender. Ooooo, five star review.

He laughed. "I'd like to try your steak then. Medium rare, please."

"Absolutely!" I squeaked. I hugged my notepad to my chest and bowed my head as I scampered to the kitchen to place their order. My cheeks felt hot already. I prayed they didn't see me blushing. Why was I so embarrassed?

"What's wrong with you, Ocean?"

My best friend Liliana threw me a glance as she rinsed the last of her dishes. She was the lead dishwasher at the bar. I always wondered why she chose to apply for that position, but she wasn't a people person and preferred to work behind-the-scenes. She was like me, a recent college graduate with a degree in business administration and no idea what to do with it. Her tattoo sleeve, multiple piercings, and pastel pink hair prevented her from ever getting a job in corporate.

"Nothing. Just tired. Josh owes me big time," I said, reaching down to rub the sole of my feet.

She nodded toward the table I was serving. "Those guys are pretty cute, huh? What do you think?"

I rolled my eyes. Lily was always trying to set me up, but I just wasn't having it. She thought I was gay, and I was happy to play along with that just to get her off my back. But then she saw that I wasn't going for women, either.

"No, Lily, I'm not interested in hooking up with either of them."

She rolled up a dish towel and whacked me with it. "Do you want to be alone forever, Ocean? Come on! You're 22, and you've never been on a date! "

I massaged my arm where the towel stuck. "It's no big deal. I'm prepared to be alone forever. With my ten cats," I added. Lily gaped in horror.

"No, no, no. I will not let you become a cat lady. You have to go back out there!"

As soon as I received the orders from the cook, Lily took my shoulders and shoved me out of the kitchen. The dishes rattled on the service cart as I struggled to grab hold of the handle. "You better come back with at least one number!" She called out behind me.

My heart thumped as I returned to the table. I set the steak in front of Mr. Gorgeous with trembling hands. It was surrounded by a bed of broccoli and a baked potato. He inhaled and sighed. "This looks wonderful. Thank you, Miss Oceanna."

I smiled. "Don't thank me. Thank the cook. He's no gourmet chef, but he's pretty good."

The blonde man sighed as he sliced his tilapia with a fork and knife. "Gourmet he is not."

The other guy didn't seem to have any complaints. He dug into his fish before the other two touched their utensils. I started to take my leave until Mr. Gorgeous called my name. "Say, Oceanna. My friends and I are not from around here. This is our last night. Do you know of any nice spots we could visit?"

Oh, my Lanta. He wanted my advice again. My brain raced for an answer. Our town of Emerald Bay wasn't known for its nightlife. It was a small, coastal town surrounded by misty harbors and fishing boats. If you weren't born there, you probably wouldn't live there. Many people drove by on their way to somewhere more exciting. However, I knew of one place that wasn't a tourist trap, a place only the locals knew about.

"Actually, I do."

I looked over my shoulder. Lily's head peeked out of the kitchen door. She gave me a thumbs-up.

"My shift is almost over. I'll let you guys enjoy your meal, and I'll meet you out front."

He smiled that slow smile again, like it didn't quite belong on his serious face. "Excellent."

I hurried back to the kitchen. I couldn't believe what I had just done. I agreed to go out with not just one guy, but three. This was totally against my principles. Before I could correct my mistake, Lily pounced on me like a hungry puma.

"So?"

I wrung my hands. "They're visiting. The guy in the tie wanted to know where they should go next before they leave."

"And?"

I hung my head. "I agreed to show them a place…"

Lily squealed so loud, I swear I heard a glass shatter. "Where?"

"The giant sand dune. Remember?"

Her face went blank before her eyes lit up. "Oh my God! That's so romantic."

Emerald Bay had one of the largest sand dunes in the state. They stood over 80 feet tall. It took considerable climbing to reach the top, but once you did, you could see the entire ocean and sand stretched out for miles. When we were younger, Lily and I used to spend hours there flying kites. And in high school, we snuck out after hours when no one was allowed on the premises to visit, but we never got caught. When I got older, it became a nice place to relax and clear my head. Lily plowed her body into mine for a bone-crushing hug. I just hoped the guys didn't find it boring. And I was still berating myself for agreeing to be their tour guide to begin with. I would have asked Lily to join us, but she had already made plans with her boyfriend. She told me to be careful as I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom.

I glanced at myself in the full-length mirror. "I'm so ready to get out of this uniform."

I put on a tank top and a pair of jeans. Splashing my face with warm water, I massaged the oil and dirt from my skin. I then reapplied my lips gloss and untied my ponytail to let my curly hair rest on my shoulders. Maybe Lily was right. Maybe I did need to loosen up. Not all men could be evil, right? Thankful that I didn't smell as musty and sweaty as I previously looked, I went to meet the guys at the front door. The cool night air felt refreshing on my hot skin. Moonlight poured over the parking lot and the sky was full of stars. A few cars drove by, leaving the smell of car exhaust in their wake. Meanwhile, I observed the men in front of me. Mr. Gorgeous was the tallest of the three while the other two stood only a few inches taller than me. "My name is Jin," he said. "And this is Gill and Toby." He gestured toward the blonde and the silver-haired man respectively.

Toby shook my hand. "Nice to meet you. Officially."

Gill only nodded. He seemed more irritated than before. He wore a sweater vest and plaid khakis, which seemed like attire more appropriate for reading at a library than eating at a bar.

"This place is right around the corner. Follow me," I said. We crossed the street toward the beach. The breeze was starting to pick up. My shirt flapped wildly in the wind, and I struggled to keep the hair out of my eyes. I should have kept it in a ponytail like Jin. Toby and Gill fell back, engrossed in conversation, while Jin quickened his pace to catch up with me.

"So, Miss Oceanna, how long have you lived here?" He said.

I liked how he called me "Miss". It was polite but a little too formal at this point. "You can call me Ocean," I said. "And I was born here. I went to college elsewhere, but there's no place like home, I guess."

He nodded. "I like it here. It reminds me of my own home."

"Where do you live?"

"Castanet Island. Not too far from here. It's been awhile since I left there to come inland."

"What's it like?"

He laughed. "You'd be surprised. It's very small. Everyone knows each other. One inn, one bar, one clinic, one general store. Limited technology. No cellphones, no cars, and definitely no wi-fi."

I grimaced. "That sounds awful."

"It's not so bad. It's nice to get away from modern society."

I looked up at him. He walked with his chin slightly lifted, staring straight ahead as if he was on a mission. Jin was already different from any guy I met. More introspective, well-spoken, and polite. There had to be something amiss. Maybe he was a wife-beater or an embezzler or an escaped convict. Only time would reveal his true colors. But it didn't matter. This was his last night.

He stopped in his tracks and I looked up. The sand dune sprawled out before us, looking more majestic than usual under the moonlight. Toby's eyes widened. His face looked strange with open eyes, considering they were heavily lidded the entire night. I noticed they were a brilliant green.

"This is magnificent," Jin said. "Looks like we have to do some climbing to get to the top."

I winked. "Think you can handle it?"

Gill adjusted the collar of his shirt and found a bench to rest on. "I will not be climbing. I'll just wait right here,"

Toby frowned. "This is one of the many wonders of nature, my friend. Don't you want to explore its beauty?"

"No."

I tapped Jin's shoulder. "Is he always like this?"

"Don't mind him, He doesn't warm up to new people very well. He's the problem if he can't see how lovely you are."

Lovely? My stomach flipped. He smiled at me before he and Toby took off in a sprint toward the sand dune. I shook the nervous tension out of my body as I ran behind them. Get a grip, Ocean.

I kicked off my shoes and instructed Toby and Jin to do the same and we threw them in a pile. I measured my opponent and mapped out a game plan. The sand dune was no match for me. I dug my foot into the sand and stabilized myself. Then I continued my careful footing until…

Ugh! I fell forward and caught myself with my hands. Toby scaled the sand dune like he was an expert mountain climber. I watched his figure leap and climb up the steep slope. Jin stopped his ascent when he noticed I fell. He slid down to help me up.

"Are you okay there, Ocean?" There was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

I grinned and took his hand. It was like sticking a fork into an outlet. Electricity shot up my arm, and my heart went into overdrive. I hoped my hair wasn't frayed and spitting out sparks. What was it about this guy?

"Okay? I'm just getting warmed up!"

I leaped past him, matching Toby's pace up the sand dune. When I looked back, there was a small smile on Jin's face. Something told me that he wasn't normally this carefree and happy. I couldn't place it. But this all seemed like a new experience for him.

The view at the top was breathtaking. I felt like I could reach the sky. The ocean glittered in the moonlight, its soft waves caressing the shore and filling the air with the scent of saltwater. The breeze was so strong that I imagined myself diving off the edge and soaring into the night. Toby was a few paces ahead of us. He craned his neck to admire the billions of stars.

Jin gaped at the scenery in awe. "This is amazing. How did you find out about this place?"

I smiled. "My best friend Lily and I discovered it years ago. It's actually not a secret. A lot of people come here. But only the locals know about it."

He returned my smile. "It's like a hidden treasure. What a perfect way to end the night. Thank you, Ocean."

As he gazed at me, my palms started to sweat. There was denying it now. I was smitten. School girl crush, doodling hearts in a diary, carving initials in a tree smitten. It had been years since I had a genuine crush. Lily would've thrown me a bachelorette party that same night if she knew. Jin took a strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. This whole evening was just a little too perfect. My skepticism wouldn't allow me to fully relax. What did I really know about him anyway?

Before I could react, Toby called out to us. "Jin! Oceanna! Come look at this!"

Jin and I exchanged glances before running to catch up with Toby. He was standing at the edge of the sand dune that sloped down to meet the beach. A dark figure sat in the middle of the ocean, a fountain of water spewing from the surface.

"Is that…" I started.

A haunting bellow echoed through the night. I inhaled sharply.

"A whale!"

The whale sprung from the water, creating an elegant arch through the air before landing with a crash. I laughed.

"Okay, now that was cool."

Toby nodded. "Gill is missing out. How magnificent!"

I looked at the two guys on either side of me. It was strange. I didn't know anything about them and yet I already felt so comfortable, like I was reconnecting with old friends. After spending the next half hour exploring the sand dune, we decided to head back to make sure Gill didn't ditch us. Jin and I talked about any and everything as we walked. I learned more about his life in Castanet, and I told him about my stint at university. But the more he spoke, the more mysterious he seemed. I called a cab on my way back to the bar and it was already there upon our arrival. Jin opened the door for me.

"Ocean, I'll never forget this night. It was truly something else," he said, placing his hand over mine as I went to shut the door. He fished for a slip of paper from the pocket of his blazer. "Like I said, we don't have phones that can take long distance calls in Castanet. But I'd love to continue talking, if that's okay with you."

He handed me the paper. It was his address.

"I know you've probably never written a letter," he teased. "But that's how we communicate."

I laughed. "I can't say I have. But it's cool. I might even send you a letter in a bottle."

"Ah, my dear. But the whale from earlier might swallow it before it gets to me. Take care of yourself, Oceanna."

He leaned down to give me a peck on the forehead. I froze. Once I was settled in the backseat of the cab, he shut the door behind me. Toby waved as the car pulled out of the curb. Gill stood with his arm crossed and gave me another curt nod. I hoped he was able to pull the stick out of his butt. I clutched the slip of paper in my hands and rested my head on the window. The butterflies in my stomach threatened to burst free. I hated this feeling. But at the same time, my whole being swelled with happiness. Was this what it was like to fall for someone?

I pulled out my phone and texted Lily. "OMG." I wrote.

"OMG!" She replied.

And that's how it began. I, Oceanna, shunner of all things love, fell for the mysterious Jin of the faraway land of Castanet. Little did I know that the mystery had yet to be revealed.

This sand dune was based on the one at the Jockey Ridge State Park on the outer banks of NC. You guys should check it out. It's so beautiful! That being said…

Thanks for reading. I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review, good or bad, I want to read it all!